and here comes fall?

Who really knows around here. We didn't get summer until the rest of the country had already had heat stroke for a couple months. I do know that there is always a bevy of local produce available in the area, translation in garden speak...if they can grow it so can I. I recently went a little App happy, and woohoo did I find a great one, Locavore! It gives you current local produce seasons by months and weeks, and let's you know what is year round. I'm excited to be integrating technology into the garden plan in a new way.

Here's a look at what we've harvested, at least a days worth...will update soon with grand new pics of our new layout and the coop!

Yes indeedy, there went summer...

Technically it's still very warm for this part of the country, but once again I feel my favorite season has been cut short. I recently found myself in a conversation that led me to the words... "I need to reinvent my idea of gardening..." I was referring to the extreme difference in climate and the fact that to me [cold = inside] up until recently. Ahhh, the hunt for long johns will start soon.

The garden is still very small, we did enjoy a delicious cucumber salad fresh from the vine last night at dinner. I think a few tomatoes will be ripe soon, hopefully enough for a salad. The greens are still prolific and I have intentions to beef up the production of easier things soon. I missed another season of abundance... here's to learning and not giving up.

On the coop front I have begun to suspect it will have to be a nap project spear headed by Tricia and I.

and the rain comes down

I'm actually getting accustomed to the cold rain, I don't pretend to enjoy or like it but it's easier to not complain about it. I can also see the benefits of the weather in my garden, where I still have healthy spring fare popping up all over.

I posted yesterday regarding the back yard... here is what we've done thus far.

and here for fun is Medusa can

this lingering cold is strange

With a high of around 70 today, and keeping in mind that last night I could actually see my breathe things in the garden are looking a lot like spring instead of in what most areas is mid summer. We have beautiful cucumber blossoms gracing us with their golden delight, we also have a bevvy of tomato blossoms. I've been proactive this week for a winter harvest as well, I procured two starts for carnival squash, I think I might head back to get a blue variety that looks interesting.

The weekend was productive in many ways regarding the yard, we finally had a good portion of the asphalt "stones" removed and hauled away. Unfortunately this has created the new challenge of sifting away the beauty bark and river rock that litters the rich looking soil. The idea of step-able plants came up, in the end we've decided on crimson clover. I think it will be beautiful and a wonderful alternative to boring old grass. I hope to either use the clover myself or get a herd of bunnies to help us keep it clean.

The next true harvest will be the french breakfast radishes, we are continuously harvesting lettuce and kale now which is neat. I've sown a gourmet blend of lettuces and radishes this week, I sort of hope the weather stays mild enough for us to continue to have a bountiful garden. All the greens are really making us both feel more active. I am eager to start growing bizarre veggies, I think kohlrabi may have to be my next big vegture, after the blue squash of course.

for real this time...

Little lemon thyme...up close.

The grande finale.....

this will change our quality of life

and then there were herbs...

It has been for the most part a very lovely week, the sun shone brightly the wind was mild it was for once resplendent. Today was overcast and a touch cool but it was no less productive. I took the morning and made a little dream come true. Below are pictures of my handy work.

This is the beginnings of our steppable yard...it's lemon thyme.

and up close...

Progress Sweet Progress!

It has been hot, the last few days and I am basking in the glory of little beads of sweat. We have been relaxing and going at what some would consider a snails place, I however am excited and with a little more work I really thing this lil' Ghetto Farms project could be really rolling soon. Tonight I intend on using a few items from the garden in our dinner. Here are a few pictures, and then I'm back out there while the lil' man is still napping.

The first photo is the "raised" beds (we used old dresser drawers and the lasagna gardening method)
The second photo is the area in front of the back house cleared of red rock and being prepped to be a raised herb garden...I am so excited.

Herbs and Greens!

These are my current focus/ obsession. I have begun dill, chives, oregano, and lavender in a mini seed starter greenhouse on the dining room table. I have sown greens anywhere I believe I may get them to grow. We have become a family of diligent label readers once again, I have decided label free products will save us time and be better for us. The  move to the PNW somehow made us more relaxed about our purchasing and consumption habits. I equate it with going away to school for me, and a year long holiday with the 'rents for Husband Man. It's taken the fact that our son now needs to share everything we eat for me to awaken out of the coma of corn syrup, processed foods, and inhumanly raised livestock. I shook it off quickly though, I still feel grubby from the last year of ick, but all the salad and kombucha should help get me back in balance. I will welcome back the healthier metabolism too, hopefully that will be close on my heals soon.

Getting in touch with the land and watching greens pop up or flowers open has helped to reconnect me to myself. Today I will arrange my seeds by season of sowing...tomorrow after the dentist I have a date with dirt!

oh, there's the worm bin!

Our new home and yard are at times very overwhelming, my husband and I have a gaggle of phrases that have become mini mantras. There's the classics "baby steps" and "one project at a time", or his favorite "we have time to do that later." Due to this wonderfully relaxed attitude sometimes when I'm missing something I don't realize it's missing until I find it. This was a wonderful and odd discovery as the worm bin had been sitting neglected in plain view of many vantages including the back door, back steps, while crouching by the pond, from the bbq area, walking in the back gate, and many other obviously heavily trafficked areas. The joy inside made me giddy, I sat poking and mixing with a recently fell branch from the black walnut that is shading our back slab, I felt child like. I watched worms dive for cover as I mixed in leftover greens and coffee grounds. There is a plant in my yard I am afraid of, not in the human eating nightmare scenario sort of way. The fear is based on the fact that the fronds of this somewhat attractive shrubby-do are razor sharp, human flesh is butter in it's hands. I took advantage of the late June hoodie weather and hacked away at it this afternoon. I am happy to say that with the help of a single trusty rubber coated glove, a long sweatshirt and jeans I returned from the job unscathed. I also tried to pick a fight with some generally serene bumble bees while trimming the unruly swampland that is my side yard. I must admit all the trimming is really so the new inhabitant of the pond cannot so effectively hide him or her self from view. Well there's the baby more later...big update with pictures.

la dee da and so it goes...

 This is a shameful excuse for a current and up to date blog, but it is finally spring here in the PNW and we have been outside. I love outside, Che LOVES outside. Ghetto Farms is being slightly classed up by Husband Man. We are really on the way, baby steps...teeny tiny baby steps.

My secret inner goals want to erupt all over the page but I find that inner determination vs creative desire is sometimes a hard call.  

I'm building a wall and for once not metaphorically, I am literally building a wall as part of my raised bed revolution. I'm feeling industrious as I clean up randomly buried "treasures" during this revolt on mass produced or imported edibles. We have big plans we say, we have big plans! (and one day we will write it on the moon)

A Week and a Half of Post Card Weather...

   The splendid and mild weather as of late has been helpful in keeping this urban farmer productive, and yes, I am nearly a farmer (of the urban sort as noted above).  There are three and a half tomato plants thriving in re-purposed containers in ghetto farms, potatoes of the Yukon and purple variety are nestled in right next to them in their own re-purposed containers. A sweet find was obtained from the local Grocery Outlet as well, an easy to assemble seed starting greenhouse, this was a two nap operation that included extra things like wire to keep the shelves level but it's up and amazing now. I've already started some horseradish and garlic bulbs, next to start the watermelon and the plethora of flowers I just couldn't resist on sale 2 packs of seeds for a dollar.

    This really has been a productive week, the small area designated as GF (Ghetto Farms) is nearly unrecognizable. Below are some before shots taken about five days ago.

  There you have it, a mess left by the previous owners and now as a moment of zen....The Pond!

Thank you, sorry for the short entry. Updates after the big birthday fun time in Newport, Or. where I will surely procure some sort of vegetative little friend whether or not it's on the level.

The Adventure that is my new yard!

Every morning there is a surprise in my lovely new yard here in the PNW. Growing up in Florida I became accustomed to tropical plants and all their splendor, here it's been fun to discover an entirely new eco-system. There are still your common annoyances (dandelion all over and tufts of grass always seem to find a way into the flower beds), but there are also some crazy weeds I've never before encountered. During a recent weeding adventure under a big tree in the front yard I found a plant that pops it's seeds when touched. I eradicated most of what was present but the little brat of a plant made sure it would be an on going battle, next season I'll be sure to get them before they go to seed. 

Currently for edibles we've got several varieties of lettuce, some red onions, yukon and purple potatoes, and some violets that I hope to make into jellies. Something I heard about on the fantastic site yougrowgirl.com, where Gayla Trail inspires the gardening world. I'm hoping to get a few varieties of tomato into some raised boxes we dug out of a heap behind our back house. Re-purpose, re-purpose, re-purpose that's how we roll! 

I've also been pruning the many rose bushes randomly planted all around the property, we're all waiting to see what colors they'll be. I'm actually less excited about that than my mother who will have to live thru pictures as she is in NC. Another fun and exciting aspect of the yard that is a bundle of surprises is the pond, which just yesterday attracted what I believe to be a couple of frogs. They have a disturbing duet they like to croak out around midnight, I suppose like the traffic I will grow accustomed to their serenades. 

The sun is finally saying goodnight and I would like to use the last few moments of dusk to enjoy some tea on the porch so I will say goodbye.